Wringer



Feb. 20, 1940. s. s. HOLLAND 2,190,945

WRINGER Filed Dec. 16, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRINGER Sidney S. Holland, Sandusky, Ohio, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company,

Cleveland,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to a wringer mounting for a washing machine whereby the wringer is adapted for operation in any of several positions 5 to permit wringing of cleansed articles from the washing machine to a rinsing tub or from the rinsing tub back to the washing machine or to a basket.

The principal object of the present invention 10 is to provide a wringer mounting wherein the swinging arm support is formed as an integral part of the wringer frame thereby providing a strong, rigid construction having minimum weight.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a simple, inexpensive mounting which requires a minimum machining operation, and to provide a construction wherein positive alignment of the wringer and actuating shafts is 20 assured.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are shown in the accom- 25 panying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine equipped with a wringer and wringer mounting constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the swinging arm for mounting the wringer.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section through the wringer mounting, particularly illustrating the construction of the wringer arm and driving con- 35 'nections between the transmission and wringer roller shafts.

Fig. 4 is a section through the wringer supporting arm particularly illustrating the bearing construction.

Fig. 5 is a section through the transmission housing on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the parts of the wringer frame shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. 7 is a section through the wringer on the line 11 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through the wringer with the rollers being shown in elevation.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a domestic washing machine including a tub 2 that is mounted on a base 3 supported by spaced legs 4, preferably arranged in diametric pairs and provided with caster 55 wheels 5. The tub 2 contains the usual agitating mechanism, driven by a suitable motor (not shown), that is mounted on the base at a point beneath the tub and which also drives a wringer actuating mechanism through a change speed gearing indicated by the housing 6, the housing 6 being located on the base 2 in offset relation to the side of one of the legs 4. Extending upwardly and supported at its lower end on the housing 6 is a tubular housing 1 that terminates below the upper edge of the tub in an L-shaped extension 8 connecting with a transmission housing 9 supported from the side of the tub in substantial vertical alignment with the leg 4 from which the housing 6 is offset.

The driven shaft I that is connected with the gearing in the housing 6 extends upwardly within the tubular housing I and is connected at its upper end, by means of a coupling H, with an aligning shaft I2 that is rotatably mounted in a bearing 13 formed in the vertical arm of the L-shaped extension 8. The shaft 12 terminates in a reduced threaded extension M on which a bevelled gear is mounted for meshing with a similar bevel gear I6 threaded on the reduced extension I! of a horizontal shaft l8, the shaft I8 being mounted in the horizontal arm of the L-shaped extension and has a threaded end l9 projecting into the transmission housing 9.

Threaded on the extension I9 is a bevel pinion gear 20 that is adapted to be selectively engaged by either one of a pair of bevel gears 23 and 24 that are mounted on a transmission shaft 25. The threads formed on the reduced extensions of the shafts are such that they extend in an opposite direction to the rotation of the shafts 2 so that the gears are retained in tight engagement against the shoulder portions formed by the reduced threaded extensions thereby eliminating the necessity of keys or pins for securing the gears.

The transmission shaft 25 is rotatably mounted at its lower end in a bearing 2Q formed in the bottom of the gear housing and its upper end in a bearing 26 formed in an npward extension 21 or cover of the transmission housing. The extension 21 is formed separately of the transmission housing and is secured thereto by means of fastening devices 28 extending through attaching flanges 29 and 30, as best shown in Fig. 1. The gears 23 and 24 are carried on a sleeve 3| that is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the transmission shaft, the lower gear 24 being threadedly engaged with the bottom end of the sleeve, as at 32, and in position to engage the lower teeth of the pinion gear 28, while the gear 23 is threaded on the upper end of the sleeve, as at 33, to engage the opposite diametrical teeth of the pinion gear.

The sleeve extends above the upper gear 23, and threaded thereon is a collar 34 having an annular flange 35 on its upper end to retain a ring 38 that is loosely carried on the collar so that the collar and sleeve are rotatively mounted therein.

The ring 38 has a shoulder 39 conforming to the flange 35 so that when the ring is shifted within the housing extension 2'! the sleeve is moved therewith to carry the gears to and from engagement with the pinion 20, thereby efiecting neutral and selective reverse operation of the transmission shaft. For example, when the gear 24 is enmeshed with the pinion, the sleeve 3| is driven in one direction and when the gear 23 is enmeshed with the pinion the sleeve is r0- tated in the opposite direction, or when the gears are both out of mesh they are in neutral and the transmission shaft is idle.

The sleeve 3| is operably connected with the transmission shaft 25 by means of a pin 40 extending transversely therethrough at a point between the gears 23 and 24, and which has projecting ends 4| for mounting rollers 42 that are located in slots 43 formed in the sides of the sleeve, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. It is thus obvious that when the sleeve is rotated the transmission 28 is simultaneously rotated in the same direction as the sleeve, however the sleeve has free vertical movement thereon to bring the respective gears into selective driving relation with the pinion I9.

In order to reciprocate the sleeve on the shaft the ring 38 carries laterally extending pins 44 that project through vertical slots 45 formed in the housing extension 21 and into spiral grooves 46 arranged in the inner periphery of a collar 41, as shown in Fig. 3, the collar 41- being provided with radially extending handles 48 whereby it may be rotated.

When the collar 47 is rotated in one direction the spiral grooves raise the pins in the slots 45, and when the collar is rotated in the opposite direction they lower the pins therein, the length of the slots 45 being such that when the pins are in the respective ends thereof one or the other of the gears 23 and 24 is in engagement with the pinion 20. When the pins are in midway position, the gears are both out of driving engagement with the pinion gear and the transmission shaft is idle.

Projecting upwardly from the housing extension 21, and located in axial alignment therewith, is a tubular bearing boss or spindle 49 that is of smaller diameter than the extension to provide an annular shoulder 59. Removably and rotatably mounted on the bearing boss, in supporting engagement with the shoulder 50, is an arm 5| carrying a wringer 52 whereby the wringer may be swung to any one of the positions as above noted. The arm 5| includes a tubular L-shaped member having vertical and horizontal terminal ends 53 and 54. The vertical end has an inner machined surface 55 having bearing engagement with the boss 49 and the lower end thereof terminates in a laterally extending flange 56 seatingly supported upon the shoulder 50. The outer periphery of the flange terminates in a downturned lip 57 for projection over the collar 41 wherewith the gears 23 and 24 are positioned, as previously described. If desired, the flange 56 may be reinforced by ribs 58 which are formed as an integral part of the arm. The arm is retained in any one of its selected positions relatively to the axis of the bearing boss by means of a latch pin 59 that is mounted in a boss 60 extending from the side of the arm 5| and in position for engaging in one of a series of notches 6| that are formed in the upper end of the tubular boss 49.

The pin is normally retained in engagement with one of the notches by means of a coil spring 82 that is sleeved over the pin and has one end bearing in the bottom of a recess formed within the boss 68 and its opposite end bearing against a stop collar 63 which forms the notch engaging part of the pin. The pin is reciprocated against action of the spring by means of a knob 84 located on the outer end thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. It is thus obvious that when the pin is drawn outwardly the spring is compressed and the stop collar is drawn within the recess to permit swinging movement of the arm. When the pin is released the spring will cause it to be projected into the next aligning slot to retain the wringer in adjusted position.

The machined surface 55 extends upwardly above the bearing bosses to mount a bushing 65 that conforms in outer diameter to the inner diameter of the sleeve, and is secured therein against vertical or rotational movement by a pin 86 which is extended through the side walls of the arm and through an aligning opening in the bushing.

Rotatably mounted in a bearing opening 61 that is formed in the bushing, is a stub shaft 68 having its lower end projecting downwardly from the bushing to detachably connect with the upper end of the transmission shaft by means of a coupling 69, the lower end of the coupling being engaged with flattened sides '10 of the transmission shaft to efiect driving engagement, and its upper end has slots for engaging the ends of a pin 12 extending transversely through the shaft 68. The upper end of the shaft 68 projects from the bushing 65 and carries a yoke 13 fixed thereto by a pin 14.

The horizontal terminal end of the L-shaped arm has its inner surface machined to seat a bushing 15 that is fixed therein by a tapered pin 16 extending through the walls of the arm and through an aligning opening in the bushing, as best shown in Fig. 4, and in substantially the same manner as the pin 66 securing the bushing 65, previously described.

The bushing 15 is inset from the end of the sleeve to provide space 11 for a coupling member 18 that is fixed to the outer projecting end 79 of a stub shaft 80 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing opening 8| in the bushing. The opposite end of the stub shaft carries a yoke 82 that is fixed thereto by means of a pin 83 extending transversely through the yoke and shaft in the same manner as the pin '14, previously described.

The yokes l3 and 82 are connected by a flexible joint 84 including blocks 85 and 85 pivotally mounted between ears of the respective yokes on pins 8'! and 88 that extend through the blocks. Located on opposite sides of the blocks are trunnions 89-90 and 9l-92 respectively connected by links 93 and 94, the links 93 and 94 being rigidly connected together intermediate their ends by overlapping lugs 95 and 96 through which rivets 91 and 98 are extended. It is thus obvious that rotation of the transmission shaft will rotate the stub shaft through the flexible connection,

the flexible connection rotating freely within the bend of the wringer supporting arm.

Formed integrally with the horizontal end 54 of the arm is the vertical side member 99 of a wringer frame I00. The member 99 has its lower end connected with a similar member IOI at the opposite end of the wringer frame by means of an angle bar I02, the ends of the angle bar being secured to lugs I03 in the members 99 and IOI by means of bolts I04 extending through angle shaped clamping plates I05 wedgingly engaged between the flanges of the angle.

The members 99 and IOI also include spaced plates I06 and I06 connected by side plates I01 and I01 to form vertical guideways having slots I08 opening from their upper end to accommodate the wringer roller shafts I09 and H0 respectively. The lower wringer roller shaft I I0 is mounted in the usual bearing blocks III seated at the bottom of the guideways and the upper roller is yieldingly retained in rolling contact with the lower roller by hearing blocks III slidable in the guideways and normally urged against the ends of the shaft I09 by a spring II2 carried in the top cross member II3 of the wringer frame. The wringer roller shaft H0 is connected with the flattened end II4 of the stub shaft 80 by means of a coupling II5, the coupling 18 having an elongated opening I I6 conforming in shape to the flattened end II4 of the shaft 80.

The opposite end of the coupling sleeve has diametrically spaced notches III engaged by a pin II3 extending through the end of the roller shaft IIO, the roller shaft projecting into a recess II9 of the coupling, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. It is thus apparent that since the supporting arm of the wringer is formed as an integral part thereof, it is not necessary to provide other bearings than those for supporting the stub shafts, thereby simplifying construction and assuring better alignment of the stub and roller shafts. In the illustrated instance the top cross member has a recess I20 opening through the roller side thereof to accommodate the spring II2 which is engaged by a tensioning screw I2I having its shank I22 threaded in an opening I23 of the cross bar to swivelly connect with a clip I24 attached to the spring as shown in Fig. 8. The upper ends of the members 99 and IOI are recessed at the sides thereof to provide seats I25 for seating the side wall portions of the cross bar which are guided into engagement therewith by guide lugs I26. One end of the cross bar, for example that extending over the frame member IOI, has ears I21 engaging the ends of a lug I28 projecting from the member IN and which are pivotally connected by a pin I29 extending through the ears and lug to provide a hinge connection for that end of the bar. The other end of the bar is latched to the frame member 99 by a latch I30. The latch I30 is in the form of a bell crank lever pivoted within the recess of the cross bar on a pin I3I. The depending arm I32 of the lever carries a hook I 33 engaging a cross pin I34 carried between lugs I35 projecting upwardly from the plate portion I06 of the member 99. The other arm I36 of the bell crank connects with a plunger I 31 slidably mounted in a boss I38 on the cross bar. The projecting outer end of the plunger carries a knob shaped head I39 that may be engaged by the palm of the hand to effect release of the latch. Upon release of the latch the cross bar is free to swing upwardly on its hinge connection with the other frame member IOI, thereby releasing tension of the spring acting on the rollers.

In attaching the wringer, it is applied to the bearing boss 49 in such a manner that the pin 12 on the stub shaft enters the notches of the coupling 69. The wringer is then ready for use and may be swung to any one of its selected positions by withdrawing the latch pin 59, swinging the wringer to the desired position, and then releasing the latch pin. The wringer rollers may be driven in the desired direction by rotating the collar 41 until the desired gear 23 or 24 is in engagement with the pinion gear 20.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a simple and inexpensive wringer support which is incorporated as a part of the wringer frame thereby reducing machining operations to a minimum, and providing a rigid and strong construction.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a wringer mounting, a fixed supporting member, a tubular elbow-shaped wringer supporting arm, means mounting one terminal of said arm for swinging movement about an axis of said supporting member, a wringer including a side member formed as an integral part of the other terminal of said arm, a wringer roller carried by said frame, a shaft for said roller having an end extending through the side member and into said arm, a bearing supported by the arm in said last named terminal, a shaft mounted in said bearing, and means in said terminal intermediate said bearing and said fixed supporting member for connecting said shafts including a pin and notched coupling disengaged by axial movement of the shafts away from each other.

2. In a wringer mounting, a tubular elbow shaped wringer supporting arm, means mounting one terminal of said arm for swinging movement about an axis of said supporting member, a wringer frame including a side member formed as an integral part of the other terminal of said arm, a wringer roller carried by said frame, a shaft for the wringer roller having an end extending freely through said side member and into said arm, a driving connection mounted in said arm, a bearing for said driving connection inset within the terminal of the arm carrying the wringer frame to provide a recess to receive the end of the roller shaft, and a coupling contained in said recess including pin and socket members for connecting the wringer shaft with the driving connection.

3. In a wringer mounting a fixed supporting member, a tubular elbow-shaped wringer supporting arm, means mounting one terminal of said arm for swinging movement about an axis of said supporting member, a wringer frame including a side member formed as an integral part of the other terminal of said arm, a wringer roller carried by said frame, a shaft for said wringer roller having an end extending freely through the side member and into said arm, bearings inset within said terminal ends of the arm, stub shafts mounted in said bearings, flexible means in said arm for connecting said shafts, and a coupling connecting the wringer roller shaft with the stub shaft that is located in the terminal connected with the side member of the wringer frame.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a wringer supporting arm including a tubular L-shaped member having end terminals, a wringer frame having a side member integrally connected with one of the end terminals of said arm, a wringer shaft extending freely through said side member, bearing rings removably inset in the respective ends of said terminals, stub shafts mounted in the bearing rings, a flexible joint connecting the stub shafts, means detachably connecting the wringer shaft with the stub shaft at that end of the arm, and means for removably pinning the bearing rings in said arm.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a wringer supporting arm including a tubular L-shaped member having end terminals, a wringer frame having a side member integrally connected with one of the end terminals of said arm, a wringer shaft extending freely through said side member, bearing rings removably inset in the respective ends of said terminals, stub shafts mounted in the bearing rings, a flexible joint connecting the stub shafts, means detachably connecting the wringer shaft with the stub shaft at that end of the arm, means for removably pinning the bearing rings in said arm, a driving shaft, and means for detachably connecting the driving shaft with the other stub shaft.

SIDNEY S. HOLLAND. 

